********** SNIPPET FROM MY HIBERNATE PROJECT *************/

String sSQL = "select ft_name as NAME, 'ft' as AOTYPE from faulttree " +
                    "union " +
                "select dt_name as NAME, 'dt' as AOTYPE from decisiontree " +
                    "union " +
                "select exp_name as NAME, 'expr' as AOTYPE from expression " +
                    "union " +
                "select dt_type_name as NAME, 'dt_type' as AOTYPE from decisiontreetype";
       
AOType aoType = null;
         
List list = session.createSQLQuery(sSQL).list();
       
aoTypes = new HashMap(list.size());
       
for ( Iterator iter = list.iterator(); iter.hasNext(); ) {
    Object[] obj = (Object[])iter.next();
           
    // obj[0] is a String object. Fine and dandy
   
    //----------------------- The problem is here! -------------------------
    // obj[1] is a String object using Oracle, but a Character object in   
    // Derby. Not good!
    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
    System.out.println(obj[0] + " <<>> " + obj[1]);
}
   
/******************* JDBC TEST *********************/

package calc;

import java.sql.*;

public class JDBCTest {
  Connection conn;

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    new JDBCTest();
  }

  public JDBCTest() {
    try {
      Class.forName("org.apache.derby.jdbc.EmbeddedDriver").newInstance();
      String url = "jdbc:derby:MyTestDB;create=true";
      conn = DriverManager.getConnection(url, "", "");
      doTest();
      conn.close();
    }
    catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {System.err.println(ex.getMessage());}
    catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {System.err.println(ex.getMessage());}
    catch (InstantiationException ex) {System.err.println(ex.getMessage());}
    catch (SQLException ex)           {System.err.println(ex.getMessage());}
  }

  private void doTest() {
   
    System.out.println("TESTING SELECT");
    String sSQL = "select ft_name as NAME, 'ft' as AOTYPE from faulttree " +
                        "union " +
                    "select dt_name as NAME, 'dt' as AOTYPE from decisiontree " +
                        "union " +
                    "select exp_name as NAME, 'expr' as AOTYPE from expression " +
                        "union " +
                    "select dt_type_name as NAME, 'dt_type' as AOTYPE from decisiontreetype";
   
    try {
      Statement st = conn.createStatement();
      ResultSet rs = st.executeQuery(sSQL);
       
      while (rs.next()) {
        String s1 = rs.getString("NAME");
        String s2 = rs.getString("AOTYPE"); // <------- This works just fine!
        System.out.println(s1 + " <<>> " +  s2);
      }
    }
    catch (SQLException ex) {
      System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
    }
  }

}